Birds in Cities Fear Women More Than Men, and Scientists Don’t Know Why

A study of 37 bird species in five European countries found that urban birds often fled sooner when approached by women than by men.

On average, men could get about one meter closer before birds took off.

Researchers do not yet know what cues birds are using, but they suspect factors like scent, movement, or body shape.

The finding suggests city birds may detect subtle differences between human observers, with implications for urban ecology and wildlife research.